Digital transformation and coffee beans – how one Cheltenham IT firm's partnership made for the perfect blend

Cirencester-headquartered Rave Coffee is renowned for its award-winning, top-notch coffee and it's been keeping coffee shops and cafes across the UK stocked up since 2010.

With a strong wholesale client list and a busy website, managing customer and business orders plus its popular coffee subscription boxes, Rave needed an IT system to, well, rave about.

This is where the expertise of ReformIT came in, where one recommendation sparked a coffee date that led to a trusted, long-term relationship. SoGlos spoke to ReformIT about how its partnership with Rave Coffee got brewing...

Can you tell us a bit about Rave Coffee and how your partnership began?

Rave Coffee was introduced to ReformIT through a referral, which is how we acquire the majority of our new business. 

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Rave Coffee has experienced significant operational growth. As part of its expansion, it recognised the need to ensure its IT infrastructure was secure, compliant and future-proof. 

That’s where we came in – to support its digital transformation and help to build a robust IT foundation to sustain the company's continued growth.

What were the key IT challenges Rave was facing when the business approached you?

The main challenges centred around security and compliance. To be fair, Rave hadn't done a bad job up to that point, but with the company's rapid growth, it was clear that a more structured and proactive security strategy was needed. 

Our focus was on ensuring that its network infrastructure was properly secured, patched, updated and actively monitored. 

We also prioritised implementing robust data backup solutions to guarantee its data was fully protected and recoverable in any scenario.

Did you have to tailor your solutions specifically for the coffee industry?

Not particularly – the core IT principles of security, compliance and reliability apply across all sectors. 

However, we did need to be mindful of how Rave operates as a busy, high-volume e-commerce business. With a constant flow of orders coming through Shopify, it was critical that any work we carried out didn’t disrupt its production line or impact the team's ability to fulfil orders. 

So, while the solutions themselves weren’t industry-specific, the way we implemented them was carefully planned around its operational needs.

How has your IT strategy helped improve the client’s offering – whether in-store, online or via mobile apps?

By partnering with ReformIT, a Cyber Essentials-certified business with security and compliance at the heart of everything we do, Rave significantly strengthened its overall IT posture. 

Our tailored IT strategy and support service ensures that systems are secure, compliant and continuously monitored, giving Rave peace of mind and allowing it to focus on delivering excellent customer experiences across all online platforms.

In addition, with a robust, tried-and-tested backup and disaster recovery plan in place, it can confidently operate knowing that its data and operations are protected in the event of a cyberattack or system failure. 

Ultimately, this foundation of IT stability and security empowers the client to innovate and grow without compromising performance or customer trust.

What is your long-term support plan for Rave?

Our long-term support plan for Rave is to continue partnering closely with it as the company grows, regularly reviewing and evolving its IT strategy to ensure it aligns with the team's changing business objectives. 

We'll maintain proactive monitoring, security and compliance, while also identifying opportunities for innovation and efficiency.

Of course, we'll also continue enjoying their excellent coffee – a definite perk of the partnership!

And finally, do you see IT evolving for retail and what are your insights/recommendations for retail businesses in Gloucestershire?

With the rise of AI platforms and the increasing need to deliver a seamless experience across in-store, online, mobile and social channels, retail businesses should take the opportunity to reassess their IT and cyber security posture. 

A strong first step is aligning with the Cyber Essentials framework – a government-backed certification designed to help organisations defend against common cyber threats. 

This is particularly valuable for small to medium-sized retailers looking to build resilience and customer trust.